Nine robbers arrested

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested a gang of nine alleged robbers over the last five days and confiscated two FN handguns from them, an officer said yesterday.

They were arrested in Bekasi, West Java; Central Jakarta and West Jakarta.

The officer, who asked for anonymity, said that the gang had committed a series of burglaries and shop robberies in Greater Jakarta, Madiun, East Java, and other cities.

Details of the arrests, the guns, and the names of the nine men were not available.

He said the gang specialized in stealing jewelry.

When they robbed a shop in Madiun earlier this year they made off with more than ten kilograms of gold jewelry.

They have also stolen from shops and houses in Jakarta, including in Pisangan Muara and Pulomas in East Jakarta, and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta.

The officer said the gang usually stole at least 100 grams of gold from each of their operations.

The gang, whose membership was loose, in that the nine men could join other gangs, also sought cash, the officer said.

Police are still questioning the men to obtain more information on other accomplices and the supplier of the guns. (cst)